“The Simpsons” Cut Alf Clausen and 35 Piece Orchestra

Here’s why…

In a cost-cutting measure that should shock the world, longtime music composer for The Simpsons, Alf Clausen, has been let go from his post. While the iconic theme music for the series will stay, Clausen has told Variety that The Simpsons are going for a refresh in the music department which sounds like it’s going to be more of a technical change than anything else.

As the article states, The Simpsons has been using a 35-piece orchestra (all of whom were also let go) every week to score the longest running primetime animated sitcom in history at the behest of Matt Groening. Nowadays, a lot of orchestration can be done digitally, so if the show is indeed going for a cost-cutting measure, that’s probably the avenue in which the show is going into.

Clausen doesn’t go into the dark without kudos, the famed composer has had over 30 Emmy nominations with a bunch of wins dating back to the early 90’s.

Note, the music production has NOT been completed for the October 1st return of The Simpsons.

[h/t: Variety]